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James Stephen Woodhouse became Head Master of Lancing in September 1981. It was a vibrant time at the College with rising numbers and reputation. This was enhanced by various members of staff being appointed to headships and the Head, Ian Beer, moving to Harrow, only to be succeeded by the head of Rugby which was seen as an affirmation of Lancing’s reputation. Ian had set a cracking pace and James, or Jim as he was always and most affectionately known, had the experience, wisdom and stature (in every sense) to take up the challenge. The son of a popular Bishop, he had read English at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge and been Master of the Queen’s Scholars at Westminster before his 14 years at Rugby. Jim would serve Lancing with distinction for 12 years and his legacy is impressive. The place seemed congenial to him: perhaps the proximity of the sea suited the sailor.
Jim was scholarly, cultivated, athletic and a good all round sportsman. He was an active member of the English Department under Alan Black and Stephen Cornford and a strong supporter of Drama and Music. Early in his time the Lancing Theatre was created in the shell of the old swimming pool. This was an economical option and, almost unbelievably, much of the work was done by staff and pupils. Jim encouraged the project which epitomised his educational ideals. With subsequent improvements, the Theatre is still one of Lancing’s great assets. He inherited the complex problem of where to place the rebuilt Chapel organ. Its triumphant appearance on the west wall involved abandoning the antechapel which paved the way for the recent completion of the Chapel. Jim helped to facilitate this with his characteristic non-confrontational grace and pragmatism. He was an active supporter of the Chapel, although bred to a different tradition, and he sought to broaden its impact. Trevor Huddleston preached and encouraged the links with Malawi which are part of Jim’s legacy.
On arrival Jim was shocked by the unreconstructed state of much of the 19th century boarding accommodation. Over the next decade the old houserooms and dormitories began to disappear and study bedrooms multiplied. These were not headline-grabbing developments, but they transformed the boarding experience. Comfortable houses were also built for the Chaplain and the Field’s Housemaster. In 1985 a second Boarding House for Sixth Form girls was opened. The market was strong and Jim was keen to start full co-education, but it seemed that Lancing was not ready. A more ruthless operator might have forced the issue, bringing Lancing into the 20th century before the second millennium, but Jim was an exponent of magisterial laissez-faire: the existing model was working and he left it unchanged. He did, however, choose some remarkable women among many outstanding appointments to the staff. He started to establish a senior management team and the appointment of Ken Shearwood as the first and role-defining Registrar was an astute inspiration. More pupils were recruited from overseas. Jim was closely involved in all aspects of school life and took a scholarly interest in its publications and marketing.
Another area where Jim was ahead of his time was craft and creativity. A further appeal led to the building of the Design and Technology Centre in 1992-93. Some considered it too big or even anti-academic, but it has entirely justified itself. Jim also appointed the first Head of Computing who set up what is now the IT Department above the Science laboratories. Sporting facilities were increased significantly with a focus on improving opportunities for women’s games. The creation of the College Farm in the early 1980s was another experiment which has had enduring success. More options gave pupils greater opportunities to discover what they were good at and grow as individuals, regardless of gender. Jim supported and expanded pastoral care: hardly a draconian disciplinarian, he defused contentious issues with whimsical humour and measured justice. This seemingly old-school patrician was, in fact, a disconcertingly unconventional, liberal moderniser. When hundreds of balloons were dropped from the triforium at the end of a carol service with parents, his sense of fun had to be tempered by a show of authority.
It is impossible to think of Jim without Sarah, whose impact on the school was profound. Bringing staff families and children together, entertaining at the Old Farmhouse – parties for young children with the Head Master sliding down stairs on a tea tray – and taking a close personal interest in all members of the College community were appreciated by many families. Inclusivity, a broader curriculum, greater comfort and humanising sensitivity were central to Jim’s philosophy. Raising social and political awareness among pupils was part of Sarah’s mission. She and Jim worked together and their participation in an early Malawi expedition was a powerful endorsement of the project and something of a legendary adventure.
Towards the end of his time Jim grappled with the vexed issue of teachers’ retirement age, a crisis which was later resolved by changes in national policy. Most problems disappear if you leave them long enough. A buoyant school and a party atmosphere, culminating in an unprecedented farewell firework display on the eve of the Woodhouses’ own retirement in 1993, owed much to their warm-hearted and reassuring confidence. The rapid social and educational changes of that era, however, were generating undercurrents of unrest and anxiety. Seen in its historical context, the 1987 hurricane takes on ominous symbolic significance. It was greatly to Jim’s credit that he bore the brunt of these pressures with calm integrity, laid the foundations for future developments and left Lancing an even better school than he found it.
Jeremy Tomlinson
Common Room (1971-2012)